Roman Polanski Arrested.

richard_t · 27-09-2009, 8:28 PM

Apologies if this is being discussed in another thread but I couldn't see one.

The direcor Roman Polanski has been arrested at the Zurich Film Festival on a 31 year old US warrant. Polanski fled the United States in 1978 after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13 year old.

My personal opinion on this is that it's a huge shame. Regardless of his past Polanski has directed a lot of classic cinema such as 'Repulsion', 'Chinatown' and 'Rosemarys Baby'. For which we should all be extremely grateful for. His later work is also of great value such as 'The Pianist' for which he won an Oscar in 2003.

I can't see his arrest / imprisonment being of any benefit after such a long time, especially since his 'victim' apparently has already asked previously for all charges to be dropped.

Wonder how this will affect the release of his upcoming film 'The Ghost'?

The Ghost official website, by Roman Polanski

Badger0-0 · 27-09-2009, 8:57 PM

My personal opinion is the bloke is a paedophile and deserves 20 years minimum.
Sorry.

Badger0-0 · 27-09-2009, 9:00 PM

Actually, no, I'm not sorry.

This was a 13 yo

Davey H · 27-09-2009, 9:07 PM

Making some "classic cinema" shouldn't excuse him from prosecution if indeed he did commit such crimes.

IAN P · 27-09-2009, 9:13 PM

Yep, he's goin' away for a while. Can't see the alleged victim having much say in the matter. Especially as he's been on the run for 30+ years.

Badger0-0 · 27-09-2009, 9:15 PM

Quote:

if indeed he did commit such crimes.

He pleaded guilty.

Badger0-0 · 27-09-2009, 9:21 PM

I'm not going to be available for this week, so I won't be able to argue this, but from memory, this might have been in a state that allowed sex for 14 YOs.

If you break that (imo) stupid law, you deserve everything you get.

The thought of my 13 YO going with a man in his 30's repulses me and is just wrong.

As said, just because you've done stuff doesn't make it acceptable.

IAN P · 27-09-2009, 9:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badger0-0

The thought of my 13 YO going with a man in his 30's repulses me and is just wrong.

40's

Lifted this from the BBC site.

"Mr Polanski fled the US in 1978 after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with an underage girl".

He's definitely in the crap then.

praevalens · 27-09-2009, 9:38 PM

hopefully he will get a proper sentence for this

Badger0-0 · 27-09-2009, 9:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAN P

40's

Lifted this from the BBC site.

"Mr Polanski fled the US in 1978 after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with an underage girl".

He's definitely in the crap then.

I stand corrected, thanks.

Going from memory, I'd got it in my head he was late 30's (38?).

Just makes it worse, imo

24 P · 27-09-2009, 9:53 PM

Lock him up, throw away the key, he has all the money in the world and he defiles himself on a 13 year old?
Some how, for what ever reason, Hollywood thinks it can be lenient on Jail terms for stars..
I should go make a movie, make millions then rob a bank and say, hey I didn't really mean it..
Perfect examples, Wynona Ryder, 5 grand worth of stuff she stole, anyone else would have served time...
Paris Hilton, drink driving, 3 weeks in the lock up after being released and told to go back, come on now...
Robert Downey Jr, how many goes does he want? I am sorry judge I was not of sound mind..

Gee this is my defense any time I go see the judge...

I don't care about talent, I couldn't give a toss, its about morals, and in a society where people make money off our entertainment funds, they should be grateful when the rest of us work humdrum jobs.
They are doing what others consider a dream job...
No sympathy or pity from me, if they can't handle the heat, why keep on going back to the kitchen, no body loves me, I need attention...
Christ sakes, there is a lot more going on in the world than needy, greedy people..

Bout time Hollywood types got what they deserved..

Roman, you're an ass and you deserve to rot in a jail cell along with the other offenders, who possibly have had not anything you have received, gained in life...
To be an elitist and do this.
Shame on you..
You make me sick..

Sorry about the rant people, but it is how I see it...

Badger0-0 · 27-09-2009, 9:57 PM

Quote:

To be an elitist and do this.
Shame on you..
You make me sick..

Sorry about the rant people, but it is how I see it...

Absolutely.
I agree with everything you said.

It's just indefensible, imo.

I wonder if the OP has kids?

I suspect not

24 P · 27-09-2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badger0-0

I wonder if the OP has kids?

I suspect not

I don't have kids and I know what is right and wrong, Jesus what kind of society are we living in when you have the world at your feet and you go and do something like this?
Hope he gets done to him in prison, what he did to that child..
I have a niece and nephew, they are smart, real smart, they don't need looking after, but any harm to them, I am happy to wield a torturous axe to the offender...
Not rocket science..
I would like to see how the parents of the 13 year old feel...
1 parallel, Elvis and Prescilla, At least he waited for marriage...
As much money as he had, he had morals...

Like I said, I am sick of watching loaded Hollywood types get away with murder...

OJ???

LOL...

B12 · 27-09-2009, 10:48 PM

I like some of his films too ... but I'm sorry OP, he deserves time for this, making good films does not put you above the law ... I suspect his sentence will be lighter than it could have been for any other Tom Dick and Harry though.

xit2050 · 28-09-2009, 7:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badger0-0

My personal opinion is the bloke is a paedophile and deserves 20 years minimum.

+1

I don't understand people who say it is a disgrace to lock him up because he is a famous director.
So what? The guy abused a 13-year old girl. Nobody is going to convince me it didn't happen more than once and that there aren't any other victims of him out there...

richard_t · 28-09-2009, 7:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badger0-0

I wonder if the OP has kids?

I suspect not

Woah calm down!

I've never said that he didn't deserve what's coming to him. What I said is that I think it's a shame. I think it's a shame for the world of cinema that such a great director is in all likelyhood going to be unable to make any more films.

I do stand by what I said about it not being of any great benefit thought locking him up after all these years. The guy made a mistake 31 years go. As far as I know this was a one off mistake which seems to be backed up by the fact that the Hollywood / film community has given him continued support. When even the girl herself wants the charges dropping who will benefit from this other than just an overall sense of justice being done.

Oh and by the way, you're right I don't have any kids myself. Even if I did though I hope I'd be able to continue to look at this logically and rationally.

24 P · 28-09-2009, 7:59 AM

Maybe while hes locked up he can write an auto biographical movie, called

Quote:

The Fallen Roman AKA The Fall Of Rome...

I crack myself up....

loz · 28-09-2009, 11:40 AM

Interestingly his victim has said she got over it long ago, and publicly forgave Polanski in 1997, and filed a formal request that Los Angeles prosecutors drop the charges against him.

Though this comment from her was interesting
Roman Polanski's victim Samantha Geimer, now 45, 'got over it long ago'

Quote:

"He did something really gross to me, but it was the media that ruined my life,"

riprse · 28-09-2009, 12:02 PM

Hmmm this is a difficult one. Do I think he is a filthy pig? Yes. But what about the victim she has been through enough I don't think bringing this all up again is the right thing for her. She will have to air all that again in public & give evidence at trail while her husband & children have to hear it all.
He needs to be punished but at what cost to the victim

24 P · 28-09-2009, 12:12 PM

Quote:

"He did something really gross to me, but it was the media that ruined my life,"

, now there's irony, he is the Media, he brought this media attention to her..
She is blaming the Media? He did this to her, not the media...
Had he been an unknown, it would have been tried as a normal case, now its been given special attention, where it should not,

Quote:

rape by use of drugs

, law states he should be tried, simple..
We bend laws to suit others now do we??
Anyone that feels sympathetic towards a man who at 45? had sex with a 13 year old needs to readjust what they are looking at..
I just read this article and its disgusting..
Read what he did to her and then reason why he should be allowed to move on.

Roman Polanski and the 31-year-old legal headache | David Thomson | Film | guardian.co.uk

Never seen many of his movies, good reason not to now..
Should be locked up with Mike Tyson, they have similar interests, and they would make good bed fellows..

loz · 28-09-2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 24 P

, now there's irony, he is the Media, he brought this media attention to her..
She is blaming the Media? He did this to her, not the media...

I think, as I guess you know, that she was referring to the news industry - not the film industry.

Quote:

"What happened that night, it's hard to believe, but it paled in comparison to what happened to me in the next year of my life," she said last year, when she appeared in a documentary about problems with the case.

She was relieved when Polanski fled because reporters stopped calling

24 P · 28-09-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loz

I think, as I guess you know, that she was referring to the news industry - not the film industry.

I understand this, it was not the Film industry I was talking about, media as in news etc.
Polanski has not had a good life, Sharon Tate, and this, he is not exactly good news, and anything that does bring him attention will most likely be tabloid.
Rosemary's baby was not exactly a public friendly movie, the media would have had a field day with him.
So in essence anything he has done, which brings him unwanted attention, will ripple through the lives of others involved..
OJ had taken the public for a ride, now Polanksi?
Justice needs to be served, let me remind you of Rodney King and the ramifications..
Blanket out the media, have a closed trial...
Surely we live in a somewhat civilized society where we can sort out uber sensitive situations.
Do we take responsibility, or turn a blind eye??

xit2050 · 28-09-2009, 12:36 PM

He's a dirty old man...

... and should be treated accordingly.

richard_t · 28-09-2009, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 24 P

Never seen many of his movies, good reason not to now..

If you can't separate the man from his art then that's your loss I guess.

24 P · 28-09-2009, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard_t

If you can't separate the man from his art then that's your loss I guess.

I would hardly call something from an Animal, "art", if that's how you see someone, who degrades humans to a point where he ruins their life, then you are entitled to your opinion..
I don't respect people who won't respect people..
No need for me to separate anything, the guy is a low life who has taken some one else's right for a healthy life..
And you think because they have a creative avenue, that their art should be appreciated?
Once again, you are entitled to your opinion, no loss here, I just hope you can say to the parents of the rape victim, hey what he did was wrong, but hey he is a great artist..

richard_t · 28-09-2009, 1:03 PM

Must be so nice in your black and white world.

But as you say, we're all entitled to our own opinion so whatever.

24 P · 28-09-2009, 1:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard_t

Must be so nice in your black and white world.

But as you say, we're all entitled to our own opinion so whatever.

Black and white?
Your suggesting I enjoy a cinematic experience from a rapist?
That I either go to the cinema, rent or buy his DVD/Blu Ray and support a rapist?
Yes that is pretty black and white..

And any royalties, do they go to the victim of the crime?

A 45 year old and 13 year old, yes that is pretty black and white..

Hitler wrote a book, he is an artist, I can see your point...
No, not really...

I don't even get the point of this thread, the guy is an a hole, and you think separating his art from his personal life means his body of work should be appreciated?

I doubt a lot of people would agree with you...

**Garrett** · 28-09-2009, 1:24 PM

Without reading the links, but what I have read in the papers today Roman Polanski did some plea bargaining and pleaded guilty on the understanding he would get a very light sentence. The judge went back on his word and gave him a higher sentence. This is the reason he fled.

Now if this had happened in an episode of Law and Order I think we would all be cheering that the villain got shafted for doing the same to the girl, but in reality it goes deeper than this.

He should have severed a sentence and had the full weight of the law thrown at him not the piddling original sentence, but a contract was entered into by the criminal and the legal system.

**mabo** · 28-09-2009, 1:29 PM

@ 24 P

The problem with linking a person's work with their morality is the underlying question of where you draw the line.

Polanski, Glitter, Wyman? Many still listen to the music and watch the films of these individuals.

How about allegations? Woody Allen or Michael Jackson? Is the hint of wrongdoing enough to make you dismiss their work?

Perhaps OJ Simpson and Sid Vicious' private lives have made you unable to watch The Naked Gun films or listen to The Sex Pistols, but again, you are not necessarily in the majority.

You speak of royalties. What about something as simple as a great comedy show like Phoenix Nights that makes a joke out of the innappropriate nature of a Glitter impersonator? can you laugh at that when you know that royalties may have had to have been paid in order for the joke to be televised?

My point is, that to many drawing such a simple line is not necessary. It is entirely possible to decry a person's heinous acts (as most do with this case) without having to avoid all pieces of music/film/art in which they have had a hand.

richard_t · 28-09-2009, 1:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 24 P

I don't even get the point of this thread, the guy is an a hole, and you think separating his art from his personal life means his body of work should be appreciated?

I doubt a lot of people would agree with you...

This happened over 30 years ago and has always been public knowledge. During that time he's been known the world over as one of the greatest living directors by pretty much all those with an appreciation of cinema, not to mention the Academy, the BFI, the AFI and various other important film institutions. He was at the Zurich Film Festival this weekend, where he was arrested, to receive a life time achievement award.

I'd personally say that more people would agree with me than you might think don't you?